Deaf Cats: Cats And Kittens With Hearing Loss.

Cats are equipped with good vision, a keen sense of smell and exceptional hearing.

A cat's daytime vision may not be as good as human vision, but their night vision is far superior.

Their sense of smell is far stronger than that of a human.

They can also hear a far higher range of sounds than can humans.

All these keen senses help to make the cat the effective hunter that she is.

A cat without one of these three senses can still lead a fulfilling life, if kept indoors.

A cat allowed outside, or a stray or feral cat would not be able to cope too well without all three senses.

Deaf Cats - Reasons For Deafness

Deafness can be neurologic, meaning a disorder of the nervous system.
This could be due to a reaction to a toxic drug, neoplasia (a growth,)
or the kitten has the condition at birth. (All kittens are born deaf but
should develop full hearing by around four weeks.)

The problem could be Conduction Deafness. Hearing loss due to infections, tumors, or defects of the
eardrum, ear canal, middle ear or the external ear itself.

Can also be
due to wax, or other debris blocking the ear canal. Conduction deafness may be treatable depending on the cause.

White cats with odd eyes, one blue one yellow, are sometimes deaf in both ears but more usually have hearing in one ear only, the ear on the same side as the blue eye.

Ear mites if left untreated can do great damage to a cat's hearing
and can even cause permanent loss.

The tiny mites can be so irritating
that the cat scratches at her ears so much that it causes damage to the
outer ear.

Perhaps
the most common reason that cats become deaf, or lose most of their
hearing, is simply getting older.

Usually the advancement of age related
deafness is gradual and not evident until it has reached an advanced
stage.

Cats who have lost their hearing bit by bit through aging, usually
cope very well. A cat that is suddenly plunged into a world of silence
however, may suffer stress and display behavioral problems.

How Can I Tell If My Cat Is Deaf

Cats learn to adapt to living without hearing so it can sometimes be
difficult to determine that a cat is deaf.

This is particularly so if
the cat has had the condition from birth.

Calling for your cat is
not a useful test as all cats are likely to ignore their human depending
on their mood.

Dropping an object, such as a metal tray, behind your
cat should startle her if she has normal hearing. However be certain
that your cat does not feel the rush of air from the object dropping, or
sense any vibrations from it hitting the floor.

Cats usually
have a startled response when a noisy home appliance is switched on.
Cats with hearing usually run from a vacuum cleaner for example, deaf
cats do not have the same reaction.

It is more tricky to establish if a cat is deaf in one ear.

You can
observe how your cat reacts to noise and how she turns her head.

Try
rolling a can filled with a few coins from behind her, first from one
side then the other. If she seems uncertain of the direction the can is
coming from it may indicate that she is deaf on that side.

Your
veterinarian can test your cats hearing, (or refer you to a veterinary
neurologist.) The cause and extent of your cats deafness can be
established and any possible treatment carried out.

Are All White Cats Deaf?

No, but white cats with blue eyes very often are born deaf.

White cats with yellow eyes are sometimes born deaf.

White
cats with odd eyes, one blue one yellow, are sometimes deaf in both
ears but more usually have hearing in one ear only, the ear the same side as
the blue eye.

White cats with green or orange eyes are not commonly deaf.

A cat with any coat color or marking can be born deaf.

There are many white cats with perfect hearing.

Does Any Particular Cat Breed Produce Many Deaf Cats?

Sometimes a few cat breeds get mentioned for producing more deaf cats
than others. However this may well be because those breeds produce more white cats, and white cats with blue eyes, than other breeds.

Generally speaking, deafness is not connected to particular cat breeds.

Caring For Deaf Cats

Caring for a feline with hearing difficulty is no different than caring for any cat, with a few special considerations.

The
exception being when the deafness has been caused by an injury or
illness, your cat may need special care related to the illness but not
specifically to the deafness.

A cat without hearing is likely to be startled if you approach, and touch her or him from outside her line of sight.

Is your cat alert to noises?

Try to always approach deaf cats so that they can see you, if you are going to pet them or pick them up.

It can be quite unnerving for a cat that cannot hear your approach to be suddenly touched, watch out for hissing or even biting.

Being deaf, or hearing impaired, they are unable to know
how loud they are. Other cats with hearing loss may only be as vocal as an average
cat with hearing, or may even be quieter.

All in all deaf cats
(or deaf kittens,) will be much like cats with full hearing – playful,
naughty, lazy, sleepy, lovable, infuriating, affectionate.

As
mentioned, a cat that suddenly finds itself in a world of silence will
likely act out of character. Give her time to adjust and plenty of
understanding.

Deaf cats cannot hear the approach of traffic,
other animals or humans. It is best that a cat with hearing difficulty
is kept as an indoor cat. Walking on a leash and Outside Cat Enclosures are options however.

Cat's Claws.Your
cat's claws are very much part of your cat. Yes they can be a small
hassle on the odd occasion, but with a little management her claws
should not be a big problem.